COLUMBIANA, Alabama -- In his last official meeting as manager
of water services for Shelby County government, Charles Lay read poetry.

"This is an engineer's dry humor, so keep in mind that's
what it is -- very dry," Lay said at the commission meeting in Columbiana on
Monday night.

"Essence of retirement is on the night. The scent of
fishes; I am studying bait. I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight; I got
from looking through a boat windshield, I viewed one evening on the showroom
floor," he said, reading from a sheet of paper.

Upon concluding the poem, Lay told everyone in
attendance, "My apologies to Robert Frost," the author of the poem "After
Apple-Picking" upon which he based his own called "After Water-Working."

Commissioners, colleagues and others in attendance provided
a send-off to Lay who is ending a 12-year career with Shelby County that has
involved several milestones in the government's history pertaining to water
development.

Commission Vice Chairman Rick Shepherd read a resolution
commending Lay for his service to the county that started as utilities manager
and evolved into the water department chief. Prior to joining Shelby County,
Lay was chief engineer for the City of Anniston's water and sewer board for 27
years.

Shepherd noted during Lay's tenure, "the county acquired
and began managing the Westover Water System on Sept. 6, 2007, bringing the
customer base from 6,000 to currently over 11,000 customers and the wholesale
water customers: cities of Pelham and Alabaster along with Sterrett-Vandiver
Water Authority."

Lay provided "strong leadership" on the construction of
the county's new water treatment plant that produces more than 21 million
gallons of water daily, Shepherd said.

"Charles Lay's accomplishments and day-to-day management
of the Talladega/Shelby Water Treatment Plant, the ongoing maintenance of the
overall water system, the acquisition of Westover Water and the Shelby County
South Treatment Plant located in Wilsonville has provided to Shelby County citizens
safe and healthy water," he said.

Shepherd presented Lay with a plaque with the resolution's
words engraved and thanked him on behalf of the commission.

In an emotional speech to Lay and the audience, Water
Services Superintendent Robert Barbin read a letter he wrote to his superior
and longtime friend.

As Barbin began choking up with tears, Lay interjected, "You
should have written something funnier, Robert."

"As I reflect back on the last 12 years that we've worked
together, we've had some challenging and productive times," Barbin said.

View full sizeShelby County Water Services Senior Civil Engineer Michael Cain, Manager Charles Lay and Superintendent Robert Barbin attend the final commission meeting in Columbiana on Monday, July 22, 2013, with Lay, who is retiring from the position. Cain is taking over as manager on Aug. 1. (Martin J. Reed / mreed@al.com)

"When Hurricane Ivan hit, we had the rare opportunity to
have all 56 pump stations, the sewer plant and both booster pump stations lose
power simultaneously," Barbin read, recalling the tank feeding Greystone community
had 1 foot of water remaining.

"When the power came on unexpectedly, we turned on the
pump and breathed a sigh of relief, which was enjoyed just briefly until the
power went down again less than 10 minutes later. Each hurdle that we came to
gave us the opportunity to work toward solving a problem and being better
prepared for the next one," he said.

There were many challenging times for the county
government and the water services department. "Few people will ever know about
the countless hours that you spent coordinating the sale of the sewer system,
only to be labeled incompetent and ignorant to the needs of the people of
Shelby County. Nothing could be farther from the truth," Barbin said.

"My life is richer for having the opportunity and
privilege to work with you," he said to Lay.

Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock also recalled the
difficulties experienced over water.

"Charles said it right: the period of time
that our County Commission has gone through and delivering water services, from
preparing and reacting to the drought period when we were having very tough times
through our joint venture partner ... and then securing and building what we now
know as the South Water Treatment Plant," he said.

Dudchock recalled interviewing Lay for the job. "We're
going to hire very strong, professional help and then we're going to allow that
person to do their job," he said of Lay. "What's most important is how he has
nurtured and helped developed Robert and (Senior Civil Engineer) Michael Cain."

He added, "A testimony to anybody in management is how
they leave the ship when they get off."

Lay's ship is in order, Dudchock said.

Cain, a six-year department veteran who is taking over as
manager of water services on Aug. 1, commended Lay for his work.

"When I came on it was a great opportunity for me and I
loved being here, loved being around Charles," Cain said. "I just hope that I
can remember more than he's forgotten of this business."